Written by Peter McIntyre Monday, 08 July 2013 06:01

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM  Monday, 08 July 2013 06:01 

Sports facility site in Coldstream just off Highway 97 next to Okanagan College)

It's been three months since Greater Vernon voters approved plans for a new sports facility next to Okanagan College, but there's yet to be any activity at the site. Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chair Mike Macnabb says the next step is for military officials to do a sweep of the land to make sure there's no unexploded ordinances. "And once they are completed, then we'll get the archaeological people in. They'll do some tests to see if there's any significant finds. We don't expect any because the site has been turned over numerous times in the past," says Macnabb. Regional District of North Okanagan Parks planner Keith Pinkoski says detailed design on the 7.5 million dollar track and field venue will begin early August. "We are currently moving through the Request for Qualifications and narrowing down a consultant team.  We have had a good response and will be selecting three consultant teams to respond in a full Request for Proposals for the project.  Selection is to be completed by the end of July and detail design is to begin early August. We will be beginning excavation and site work this fall," Pinkoski says in an email to Kiss FM.  The Agricultural Land Commission has put a deadline of November 2014 to complete the facility, as part of allowing the college-owned farm land to be used for the project. "The sooner was can get on it the better. I think the public would like to see something going on there as well," says Macnabb. A referendum to borrow 7.5 million dollars for the facility, which will include an Olympic-sized running track and playing field, passed by a 52% margin on April 6.